VDN Ch 151

Chewing. Chewing.

Se-han was walking down the street, his short legs flailing, chewing a piece of candy that his fifth-grade Noona, Yoon-hee, had given him. He held a white belt in one hand, shaking it back and forth to play snake. On the other hand, he dangled a black plastic bag containing snacks given to him by the older Hyungs and Noonas at taekwondo.

When the usually cheerful Se-han had a gloomy expression on his face for a few days, they tried to make him laugh. Thanks to that, Se-han was able to escape from his depression for a short while and laugh out loud until his belly hurt.

“Taekwondo is fun.”

The older Hyungs and Noonas at Taekwondo called him cute every day. At first, he had been scared to go to Taekwondo, but because the older classmates treated him well, Se-han now enjoyed attending the classes. He sniffled once and lifted his head. Suddenly, he fixed his gaze on a corner of the street where three high school boys were playing around.

“Haha! Hey, is this even a grade a human being could get?”

“So what? It’s just a cram school.”

“You’re like this in school too. Even a dolphin would do better than you.”

They were laughing so hard that they were holding their sides. Se-han, standing tall in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at the friendly sight with his dark black eyes blinking.

Hyung wasn’t like that when he was in high school.

Se-han looked at them and thought of his brother. The way he remembers him was always standing at the sink with a serious face, diligently making something and taking care of him. He was always like that at home. I never saw him hanging out with friends, watching TV, or playing around.

“Se-han, how does it taste?”

“Mmm, ha… hah… it’s… it’s delicious.”

“If it’s too spicy, you don’t have to eat it.”

“Ugh, it’s spicy! I don’t want to eat this…!”

When Se-han spoke while on the verge of tears, Seo-oh would quietly watch him for a moment before chuckling and gently ruffling Se-han’s hair. 

“Later, I’ll make something tasty for you. I’m sorry I didn’t make it well.”

Se-han loved Hyung more than anything in the world.

He doesn’t smile much, he doesn’t joke around, and sometimes he scolds me, but he’s the coolest and most handsome brother in the world. 

He was his brother that he loved very, very much.

That brother cried a while ago. Just like a little kid, just like how I cry.

When he remembered how he cried, tears welled up in his eyes again. Huff… Se-han bit his lip tightly to hold back his tears and strained his large eyes. However, the clear liquid that had pooled in them finally dripped down his chubby cheeks.

“Hoo, sniff… ugh…”

Taekwondo was nearby and he worried that the older kids might hear him crying. Then they would tease him again and call him a baby.

Se-han wrapped the bandage he was holding in his hand over his eyes like a blindfold so that he wouldn’t be caught crying. Soon, the thick cloth became wet. The chewy candy he was holding in his mouth didn’t get any smaller and his chin was wrinkled with folds like a walnut.

I shouldn’t cry.

I didn’t know much back then because I was so young, but now that I’m in the second grade of elementary school, I know a little bit. How hard Hyung works to take care of me.

“Sigh, that poor child is going through so much…”

“When I see him trying to take care of the little child, it breaks my heart. Where on earth has the father gone?”

Tsk. Tsk. He thought of the grownups who clicked their tongues. Despite hearing those words, Se-han always waited for Hyung to come home. As soon as school ended, Hyung would come home, look at Se-han’s face, pack him food, and soon after, leave him with Auntie Soon-i.

“Se-han, just wait a little bit. I’ll go study at the library and come back soon.”

“It’s not just a little bit! You’re going to study for a long time!”

When I clung to him, crying and begging him not to go, Hyung would wipe Se-han’s tears and apologize.

“I’m sorry. Se-han, I’ll be back soon, so play with Auntie, okay?”

Se-han would reluctantly nod and see Hyung off. As he went down the alley, Hyung looked back countless times, taking in Se-han’s figure. Se-han waved until Hyung was no longer visible. After that, he went to Mrs. Soon-i’s house, watched TV, ate snacks, sang nursery rhymes, and played well, but when Hyung came, he would always end up crying and throwing tantrums.

But now Se-han understands. Hyung didn’t go to the library; he went out to earn money for them. Now that their father was gone, Hyung was working to feed him, send him to school, and buy him clothes.

Se-han thought of Seo-oh and shed more tears. 

“Sniff, you idiot, ugh… Kwon Seo-oh, you fool…”

He tightened his grip on the belt he was holding. He shouldn’t act like that anymore. He is a little bit older now. As his brother had said, he would be in the third grade next year.

Se-han had categorized it in his mind. Elementary school students were grouped into first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and fifth and sixth grades. First and second graders were considered beginners, third and fourth graders were intermediate, and fifth and sixth graders were advanced.

I’m going to be intermediate soon.

It was time to show the appearance of an intermediate elementary student. Standing in the middle of the sidewalk, Se-han quickly wiped his eyes with the belt and clenched his fist tightly.

“Now it’s my turn to protect my brother.”

With a determined expression, Se-han dashed home.

***

“Oh my, Officer Kwon, is today your first day on the job?”

“Yes. Officer Sun, no, Sundol is also starting today.”

Woof, Woof!

When his name was called, Sundol barked loudly. Since Sundol did not respond when called “Officer Sundol,” he had no choice but to call him by his name. Grandpa Nam-nam said, “Stay here” and went inside the store.

A moment later, he came out and handed the black plastic bag in his hand to Officer Kwon.

“Here’s your snack. Eat while working. That yellow one is for Officer Sun…Sundol’s pumpkin-flavored snack and the white puffed rice cakes are for you, Officer Kwon.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

Officer Kwon accepted it with a polite bow. Grandpa Nam-nam looked worriedly at the child holding tightly onto Sundol’s leash.

“Are you sure it’s okay for you to go alone? I think people passing by might feel uneasy.

“Don’t worry. I’m okay. Oh, right! I had something prepared but I almost forgot.”

Officer Kwon rummaged through the yellow backpack he was wearing on his back and pulled out a large piece of paper with strings attached and wrapped it around his neck.

[I don’t bite. I’m gentle. My name is Sundol.]

“If I wear this, it will be fine. And it would be okay to go to places with a few people around.

“…Alright. But why don’t you attach it to Sundol?”

“If I put it on Sundol, he might feel uncomfortable.”

Officer Kwon answered, puffing out his chest so the sign around his neck was clearly visible. Grandpa Nam-nam gave him a disapproving look but said nothing more. Se-han had insisted he wanted to help his brother and find Wooni and had been preparing diligently for several days. He couldn’t bring himself to stop him.

Grandpa Nam-nam continued to pace in front of the store, watching them with anxious eyes.

“Should I go with you?”

“No! I can go alone!”

“You said you’d only be around here, right? Be careful and come back safely.”

“Yes. I will be back.”

As expected, Se-han, who had bowed politely, firmly held onto Sundol’s leash and said,

“Sundol, let’s go!”

Woof!

Se-han nervously clenched his fists into round potatoes. According to Grandpa Nam-nam, Sundol’s maternal family had been search dogs for three generations, and Sundol’s mother Dali had an exceptionally good nose for detecting people’s scents. She had found several missing people and received awards for her achievements.

Dali met Sundol’s father by chance. They formed a bond, and after giving birth to Sundol, she returned to work.

When Se-han asked Min-chan for asked advice about Hyung running away from home, Min-chan gave him a very good idea: Why don’t you go out and look for him with Sundol? So from that day on, Se-han and Sundol began special training.

Se-han laid out all of Nam-woon’s belongings from the bag and let Sundol sniff them before they started their search.

To prepare for this, Se-han watched dog-walking videos. Since Grandpa Nam-nam had trained Sundol very well, the walking practice went smoothly.

Additionally, Se-han and Sundol had great emotional communication, so they worked well together. However, since Se-han was still young, he had to attach a sign explaining about Sundol when they went for walks to avoid causing anxiety among passersby.

Se-han chattered to Sundol while walking.

“Officer Sun, no, Sundol. Your mom and grandma are really, really good at finding people, so you can do well too.”

“Woof!”

“Right, it’s our first day at work today, so let’s do our best!”

Woof!

Se-han and Sundol looked into each other’s dark eyes and made a resolution. Shortly after, the sudden sound of six footsteps echoed seriously against the ground.

As they stepped onto the main road, people passing turned their heads to glance at them. The last place the onlooker’s warm gazes landed was on Se-han’s chest. Those who saw the small sign hanging around his neck couldn’t help but smile pleasantly.

Two passersby, noticing Se-han and Sundol walking side by side, burst into laughter and spoke to Sundol.

“So cute! Sundol, are you going for a walk with your brother?”

“I’m not his brother. We’re friends!”

“I see.”

The stern and quick response from the child brought bright laughter from the passersby.